A/N: I realize that posting every other day is a bit torturous, but I have to draw it out somehow!

Thanks again to everyone for the wonderful feedback and support. It means so much to me, I know I don't have words to describe it!

And once again, thanks to Leiasky, who was lucky enough to see the original Firefly costumes this week and now, I'm insanely jealous!

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Best Intentions, ch. 9

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Even at full burn it took Mal and his crew five days to get back to Sihnon. Inara waited for him impatiently on the roof of the hospital. She had arranged for her family’s hovercar to go and pick him up and she could barely stand the waiting.

Inara twisted the fabric of her shawl in her hands, hating how anxious she was, but unable to avoid the feeling. In the five days it had taken Mal to get back here, Kaylee still had not awoken. She didn’t seem to be any worse off, but she wasn’t necessarily getting better and Inara could tell, based on the looks Simon shared with Doctor Butler that neither surgeon liked the prognosis.

Listening intently for the whine of the approaching craft, Inara finally picked it out in the still night air. Stepping to the edge of the platform, she watched as the ship settled down easily. Stepping out from the shadows as the craft powered down, River bounded out first, hugging Inara tightly, before she skipped towards the door. Turning to her, Inara called, “River, maybe you should-“

“Let ‘er go, darlin’. She’s been yappin’ ‘bout seein’ Simon an’ Kaylee for the past week.”

Mal’s voice reached her and Inara turned to face him not even hesitating for a second before she rushed into his arms. He immediately captured her in his strong embrace, holding her tight, his head buried into her soft hair. “Oh, Mal,” she murmured, her voice breaking with the tears she was trying not to cry. “Thank Buddha you’re here.”

“Sorry it took me so long, darlin’,” he told her, his breath warm against her cheek. Even as she tightened her hold on him, he said, “